Wasabi (Little Mix song)

"Wasabi"
Song by Little Mix
from the album LM5
Released	16 November 2018
Genre	Pop dance pop
Length	2:34
Label	Syco
Songwriter(s)	Jade Thirlwall MNEK Mike Sabath Alexandra Shungudzo Govere
Producer(s)	Mike Sabath John Hill Joe Kearns
Music video
"Wasabi" on YouTube

"Wasabi" is a song recorded by British girl group Little Mix. It was released from their fifth studio album LM5 (2018), on 16 November 2018 by Syco, and appears as the tenth album track. It was co written by group member Jade Thirlwall, with MNEK, Mike Sabath, and Shungudzo, with production handled by Sabath, John Hill, and Joe Kearns.

"Wasabi" is a dance-pop song influenced with rock and punk elements. Lyrically, the song addresses the group's relationship with the media and the public in regards to the criticism they have faced during their careers. A music video for the song was released on 12 March 2020. In 2021, the song was certified silver in the United Kingdom by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) and certified gold in Brazil. The song was named as the group's third biggest selling non single in the United Kingdom.^[1]

Background and release

The song became viral on the video-sharing social platform, TikTok, in July 2019.^[2] After the song became viral, the group released a lyric video of the song on the group's YouTube channel consisting of viral videos using the song on 26 July 2019.^[3] A music video was also released on 12 March 2020, which was filmed during their LM5: The Tour, and includes behind-the-scenes footage from their tour bus, back stage, and different tour venues.^[4][5][6] However, the group had other plans regarding the concept of the music video for "Wasabi". In an interview with PopBuzz, Little Mix revealed that they wished to release the song as a single, and said that they had a music video concept for the song "ready to go" as well. Although, the group didn't specify the exact concept, instead, Thirlwall went on to say, "We weren't afraid to say how we felt about certain people but we kind of did that on tour anyway for 'Wasabi'".^[7]

Composition and lyrics

Jade Thirlwall drew inspiration to write the song after she saw Shungudzo (right) eating sushi and shovelling wasabi (left) in her mouth.

"Wasabi" is a dance-pop song influenced by 2000s minimal electronic beats with contemporary club beats. The song jumps between different genres featuring spoken word refrains that transition to "rock" and "punk-laced" riffs with R&B vocal harmonies.^[8][9] The song runs for a total length of 2 minutes and 34 seconds.^[10]

Lyrically, the song discusses about ignoring the haters and the negative things that the media write about the band. Pop Matters went on to call the song as a 'reminder to ignore the critics and strive towards authenticity'.^[9] Thirlwall described the song as "a sassy song about being talked about all the time, good and bad".^[11] The song also contains lyrics of the common things people say about them with the quotes, "She ain't wearing no clothes", "When she goin' solo?", and "I bet they're gonna break up" included in the song.

According to an interview with Coup De Main magazine, co-writer and band member, Jade Thirlwall, drew inspiration to write the song after seeing Shungudzo, who also co-wrote the song, eating sushi and "shovelling wasabi in her mouth". Thirlwall asked her "How are you eating that?", and added "If that was me, I would just spit it out". She then continued by saying "Wait a minute! There's a song in that!".^[11]

Critical reception

The "Wasabi" intro video features Piers Morgan (pictured) on the group's LM5 Tour performance as way of "clapping back" for his "slut-shaming" remarks towards them.^[12]

BuzzFeed's Matt Stopera, named the song "the best song they've ever recorded". He also said that the song is like a "big f*ck you to haters and people who suck".^[13] Alexis Petridis from The Guardian stated, "The vocals on Wasabi, meanwhile, are similarly daft but it’s still thrilling, jolting you from minimal electronics to an explosive, distorted guitar-driven middle-eight".^[14] Ross McNeilage MTV UK wrote that the song is "essentially Move's older, death-dropping sister".^[15]

Elisabeth Woronzoff of PopMatters said that "they have always advocated for combining empowerment and fun — an this is certainly where "Wasabi" finds it's allure".^[16] Writing for Idolator, Mike Nied stated that the song "hits back at haters over a frenetic, constantly evolving production" while also describing it as an "unhinged bop".^[17] Writing for Gay Times, Sam Damshenas described the song as a dance-pop anthem also writing that it was hailed by fans and critics as one of the best songs of their entire career.^[18] Matt Stopera from BuzzFeed also hailed it as one of the group's best single releases.^[13]

Live performances

Little Mix performed "Wasabi" for the first time as a part of the setlist of their sixth concert tour, LM5: The Tour, in 2019.^[19] Before the song was performed on tour, a mash-up of videos by YouTubers and celebrities praising the group for using their platform to promote body positivity and female empowerment, served as an opener as they transition to the second segment of the show. A clip of Piers Morgan, a Good Morning Britain presenter, appeared amongst the videos with him asking the group to make a "public apology", after member Jesy Nelson called him a "silly twat" for slut-shaming the group. The group then rose to the stage via stage lift, and proceeded to the performance proper.^[7] They also performed the song on their GRLS Festival setlist, where they headlined the event on 7 March 2020 in Brazil.^[20]

Cover versions and usage in media

In 2019, Takada Kenta, a member from the South Korean duo JBJ95, performed the song during their concert in Osaka Japan.^[21] In 2021, South Korean singers Kim Chanmi and Kim Seol-hyun, from the girl group AOA, covered the song for Chanmi official YouTube channel. ^[22] The song was featured on the season finale of the television series The Bold Type^[23] and is featured in the soundtrack of Just Dance 2024 Edition.^[24]

Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from Tidal.^[25]

• Perrie Edwards – vocals, executive producer
• Jesy Nelson – vocals, executive producer
• Leigh-Anne Pinnock – vocals, executive producer
• Jade Thirlwall – vocals, songwriting, executive producer
• Alexandra Shungudzo Govere – songwriting
• MNEK – songwriting
• Mike Sabath – songwriting, production
• Joe Kearns – vocal production
• John Hill – production
• Bill Zimmerman – engineering
• Jason Elliott – engineering
• Randy Merrill – mastering
• Phil Tan – mixing

Charts

Chart (2018-2019)	Peak position
Ireland (IRMA)[26]	85
New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ)[27]	19

Certifications

Certifications for Wasabi

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil)[28]	Gold	20,000^‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[30]	Silver	245,000[29]
^‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

1. Griffiths, George (11 May 2022). "Little Mix's biggest non-single tracks in the UK revealed". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2022-05-11.
2. Dutra, Marilia (14 March 2020). "Viral no TikTok, Little Mix lança clipe para o hino "Wasabi"" [Viral on TikTok, Little Mix releases video for the anthem "Wasabi"]. Portalitpop (in Portuguese). Retrieved 18 January 2021.
3. "Little Mix on Twitter". Twitter. Retrieved 18 January 2021.
4. "Little Mix - Wasabi (Official Video)". Youtube. Archived from the original on 18 November 2020. Retrieved 3 March 2021.
5. Rees, Katrina (15 March 2020). "Little Mix release music video for fan favorite track 'Wasabi'". Celeb Mix. Archived from the original on 23 October 2020. Retrieved 18 January 2021.
6. Riddell, Rose (2020-03-13). "Little Mix - 'Wasabi' music video". Coup De Main Magazine. Retrieved 2021-08-09.
7. Prance, Sam (24 July 2020). "Little Mix reveal they planned a Piers Morgan inspired Wasabi video | PopBuzz Meets". PopBuzz. Retrieved 2021-08-09.
8. Mylrea, Hannah (16 November 2018). "Little Mix – 'LM5' review". NME. Archived from the original on 12 January 2021. Retrieved 18 January 2021.
9. "Little Mix - "Wasabi" (Singles Going Steady)". PopMatters. 24 March 2020. Archived from the original on 27 January 2021. Retrieved 18 January 2021.
10. "LM5 by Little Mix". Apple Music. Archived from the original on 17 December 2020. Retrieved 18 January 2021.
11. Horne, Rory (2018-11-16). "Interview: Little Mix on their new album 'LM5'". Coup De Main Magazine. Retrieved 2021-08-09.
12. Prance, Sam (17 September 2019). "Little Mix drag Piers Morgan with iconic Wasabi intro video on their LM5 Tour". PopBuzz. Retrieved 2021-08-10.
13. Stopera, Matt (19 November 2018). "Little Mix Just Released The Best Song Of Their Career And Only A Handful Of Homosexuals Are Talking About It". BuzzFeed. Archived from the original on 19 December 2018. Retrieved 4 March 2021.
14. Petridis, Alexis (15 November 2018). "LM5 review – pop's unlikely survivors are American dreaming". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 9 January 2021. Retrieved 4 March 2021.
15. McNeilage, Ross. "Little Mix - LM5 Review". MTV UK. Archived from the original on 30 December 2019. Retrieved 4 March 2021.
16. "Little Mix – "Wasabi" (Singles Going Steady)". PopMatters. 24 March 2020. Archived from the original on 2021-01-27. Retrieved 2021-06-17.
17. Nied, Mike (2018-11-19). "Album Review: Little Mix Celebrates Womanhood On 'LM5'". Idolator. Retrieved 2021-08-21.
18. Damshenas, Sam (2020-03-13). "Little Mix finally release music video for Wasabi and announce new era". Gay Times. Retrieved 2022-10-08.
19. Staff Reporter (2019-09-17). "Little Mix LM5 tour set list revealed as group perform first live show in Madrid". TellyMix. Retrieved 2021-08-09.
20. Cantor-Navas, Judy (31 January 2020). "Kylie Minogue, Tierra Whack, Little Mix Set For Brazil's All-Female GRLS! Festival". Billboard. Archived from the original on 24 June 2021. Retrieved 3 March 2021.
21. 191225_켄타_Wasabi_JBJ95 2nd CONCERT [CELEBRITY PARTY 2019] in OSAKA, retrieved 2022-02-27
22. *Choreography Video* 'Little Mix - Wasabi' (Cover by SEOLHYUN X CHANMI), retrieved 2022-02-27
23. "THE BOLD TYPE Soundtrack (Season 3) - Songs / Music List". Soundtracks. 2019-04-06. Retrieved 2022-02-27.
24. Just Dance 2024 Edition - Wasabi by Little Mix, retrieved 2023-09-28
25. "LM5 Album Credits". Tidal. Archived from the original on 24 June 2021. Retrieved 17 June 2021.
26. "IRMA – Irish Charts". Irish Recorded Music Association. Archived from the original on 20 October 2013. Retrieved 17 June 2021.
27. "Wasabi at number 19 on the NZ Hot 40 Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 12 November 2018. Archived from the original on 20 January 2020. Retrieved 18 January 2020.
28. "Brazilian single certifications – Little Mix – Wasabi" (in Portuguese). Pro-Música Brasil. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
29. Griffths, George (11 May 2022). "Little Mix's Top 20 best-selling non-singles in the UK's Official Charts revealed". www.officialcharts.com. Official Charts Company. Retrieved 11 May 2022.
30. "British single certifications". British Phonographic Industry. Select singles in the Format field. Select Silver in the Certification field. 

External links

• Lyric video on YouTube